Results 841-860 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Regulation establishing Internal Security Fund: Motion (27 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: It bombs the living daylights out of other countries.

Regulation establishing Internal Security Fund: Motion (27 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: The Minister told the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality yesterday that Ireland's participation in the current ISF, which started in 2014 and will run until 2020, "has enabled high-volume investments, especially in IT systems, from which Ireland has benefitted". He also said "An Garda Síochána acts as both the responsible authority and the audit authority" for the expenditure...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Land Development Agency (27 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: 11. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he expects legislation to be introduced on the Land Development Agency, LDA; the number of staff the agency currently employs; if the position of CEO of the agency was advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39097/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Land Development Agency (27 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: When does the Minister expect legislation relating to the Land Development Agency to be brought before the House? How many staff does the agency currently employ? Was the position of CEO of the agency advertised? The Minister stated that the LDA will enable the Government to address traditional volatility in land prices as a result of speculation. I ask him to outline how that will be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Land Development Agency (27 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: I thank the Minister for his reply. As he is aware, I believe that the LDA will hand control of the supply of housing to a few elite entities, such as developers and investors, rather than it being under the control of the Government or builders. That is not the right way to move forward. I am mystified as to how it was decided to appoint a former NAMA chief financial officer as CEO of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Land Development Agency (27 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: Land site cost per unit is currently increasing by approximately 25% per annum. Even if the 7% vacant site levy put forward by the Minister applied to all developers sitting on landbanks, it would not bother them. However, because of all the exemptions it contains, very few developers will have to pay it. The Government stated that the LDA is based on best practice in European countries...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: No, I have the next question. Just do not take all day.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Process (27 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: 16. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to the passing of Second Stage of the Urban Regeneration and Housing (Amendment) Bill 2018, if his Department will work with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government with a view to enabling the Bill to be enacted as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39098/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: 19. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the overall funding allocated to the 31 local authorities for void refurbishment in 2017 and to date in 2018; the conditions attached to receiving funding for a void refurbishment; if he is satisfied that this scheme has been given the necessary budget to be a success; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39100/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (27 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: 22. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on reports that Dublin City Council approached a company (details supplied) to rent blocks of units for social housing tenants; his further views on whether this development may contribute to rent increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39099/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (27 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: 38. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on whether his Department's insistence on mixed tenure developments is having a negative consequence on the delivery of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39096/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Data (26 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: 60. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the decline in the unemployment rate in the south-east region between the first quarter in 2017 and the first quarter in 2018; the amount of the reduction that can be attributed to job creation; the amount of the reduction that can be accounted for by persons leaving the region’s labour force through...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Data (26 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: The unemployment rate in the south east between the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018 fell from 7.7% to 7.2%. I would like to know how much of that reduction is down to job creation and how much is down to individuals leaving the region's labour force through factors such as migration or retirement. Does the Minister know if the number of people who are working in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Data (26 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: I thank the Minister. There are always issues about figures in here, such as those we heard about housing in the last while. Is the Minister aware of the South East Economic Monitor? I do not know if the Minister reads it but the latest edition was published a couple of months ago. This publication provides an analysis of the regional economy carried out by independent non-politically...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Data (26 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: While the south east makes up 9% of the population of the State, only 3% of IDA Ireland jobs that were created over the last seven years have been in the south-east region. Only 2.2% of the Ireland 2040 capital investment in higher education is due to be spent in the south east. I am aware that Wexford is different again; the live register figure for Wexford in July was 15.5%. Wexford is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: The Minister talked about being eager to be involved in the process as early as possible. Have any Irish Ministers or officials been involved in the proposals that have been put forward to date?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: The Minister stressed enhancing the safety of all EU citizens and the need to minimise the threat of terrorism. Much of that threat is perceived to be coming from extreme elements from certain regions of the world. Was there any talk about the fact that the UK and France are currently arming the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, both of which are involved in one of the worst...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: The Minister says that if Ireland opts in it will be in a better position to have influence. That is true to a certain degree. If the Government is worried about the safety of EU citizens and minimising the threat of terrorism, does the Minister not think we should try and stop the wars that are going on around the world? If Ireland is going to opt in, it should be working for peace in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: What about France? France is not leaving the EU.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Mick Wallace: The Minister has contradicted his own argument. A few minutes ago, he told us that greater development of co-operation between the EU and third countries would be a crucial factor in this. Does the Minister not think, if this fund is designed to minimise the threat of terrorism, that there is merit in looking at the fact that as long as member states, or third countries with which they...